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Full text of latest news from the Irish National Organisation of the UnemployedenCopyright (C) 2019 INOUMon, 11 Mar 2019 10:32:48 GMTMon, 11 Mar 2019 10:32:48 GMT20INOU - Latest Newshttp://www.inou.ie/press/
http://www.inou.ie/xml/rss.gif7445Full text of latest news from the Irish National Organisation of the UnemployedFebruary’s Live Register Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/03/08/februarys-live-register-figures/
<p>On March 7<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Live Register figures for February, 2019 and it stood at 196,934, a decline of 38,410 people on the same month last year. The seasonally adjusted register figure for February was 196,500. This is the first time that the seasonally adjusted Live Register was less than 200,000 since April 2008, when it was 199,600.</p><p>39.3% of the Register, or 77,413 people, have been on it for more than a year: 19,161 fewer people than in February, 2018. Young people, aged under 25 years account for 6.4% of those on the Register for more than a year. The age group with the highest share of this part of the Register are those aged 45-54 years, with 16,495 people. Looking at these figures from a gender perspective, women account for 40.7% and men 59.3 %. Looking at the figures from a combination of age and gender, the largest group are men aged 35-44 years, accounting for 13% of this part of the Register.</p><p>Of the people who have been on the Register for more than a year, 44,018&nbsp; people have been on it for three years or more, which represents 56.9 % of those on the Register for more than a year, and 22.4 % of the whole Register. Looking at this figure from the perspective of age and gender, men aged 45-54 years are the largest group, accounting for 13.6 % of this part of the Register.</p><p>According to the Annex Table there were 52,361 people participating on Activation Programmes in January, 2019: 6,515 fewer participants then in the same month in 2018. There were 34,803 participants on employment programmes, 3,508 fewer people than a year ago. The biggest of these programmes was Community Employment with 21,371 participants. The only programme with more participants in January, 2019 than in same month in 2018 was Tús, a community based employment programme, which had 6,445 participants (+100).</p><p>Participation on education and training programmes fell by 3,007 participants to 17,558. The CSO noted that in the education and training figures that an actual figure has been given for the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS): 3,045. Up to now the VTOS figures were estimated at 5,000 per month. The CSO have revised the figures / data from January 2018, as the information is now available from the SOLAS computer system (PLSS). PLSS stands for Programme and Learner Support System.</p>Fri, 08 Mar 2019 09:22:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/03/08/februarys-live-register-figures/February 2019 Unemployment Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/03/05/february-2019-unemployment-figures/
<p><img src="/imglibrary/2019/02/15495530462455696_sm.jpg"></p><p>On March 5<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Monthly Unemployment figures for February 2019. The monthly unemployment figures are based on the most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) and changes in the Live Register since that LFS was released. The latest LFS covers Quarter 4, 2018 and was published on February 19<sup>th</sup> 2019. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In Q4, 2018 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7%. On foot of this LFS data the CSO revised the Monthly Unemployment Rates published for December 2018 and January 2019: the new rates are now 5.7% in comparison to 5.3%.</p><p>In February, 2019 135,100 people were unemployed, a decline of 1,600 on the same month in 2018. The overall Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) was 5.6%, down 0.2% on February 2018. Women account for 46.3% of those who are unemployed and men for 53.7%. In February 2019 the female and male unemployment rates were the same as the overall rate: 5.6%. A year ago the male rate was higher at 5.9%, while the female rate was 5.7%.&nbsp;</p><p>Looking at these figures from an age perspective there were 95,400 unemployed people aged between 25 and 74 years, and their MUR was 4.5%. A year ago these figures stood at 99,600 and 4.8% respectively. Men account for 51.3% of this age group and women 48.7%. The male MUR was 4.3%, down 0.5% on February 2018. While the female MUR remained unchanged at 4.7%.</p><p>For the younger age group, people aged 15-24 years of age, there were 39,700 young people unemployed and their MUR was 13.8%. In February 2018, 2,600 fewer young people were unemployed and their MUR was 13.5%. Looking at the gender breakdown, 40.3% of this group were women, and there were 500 fewer young women unemployed than a year ago. The MUR for young women went down by 0.6% to 12.1%.&nbsp; Men accounted for 59.7% of this age group in February 2019. Over the year the number of young men unemployed increased by 3,000; while their Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) went up by 1.1% to 15.3%.</p>Tue, 05 Mar 2019 11:16:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/03/05/february-2019-unemployment-figures/Labour Force Survey Q4 2018http://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/27/labour-force-survey-q4-2018/
<p>On February 19<sup>th</sup> 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Quarter 4, 2018. According to this survey there were 2,281,300 people employed, an increase of 50,500 on the same quarter in 2017. An additional 48,200 people were in full-time employment, and 2,300 people in part-time employment. Part-time employment accounts for 20% of people in employment. 108,500 people who are working part-time described themselves as underemployed i.e. they working less hours than they would like, 6,900 fewer people than in Quarter 4 2017. In that quarter people who were underemployed accounted for 5.2% of the employed, in Q4 2018 this figure had fallen to 4.8% of those in employment.&nbsp;In their release the CSO notes that seasonally adjusted employment is at an all-time high, at 2,272,200. The highest this figure stood pre-crises was 2,237,300 in Q4 2007.&nbsp;</p><p>There were 128,800 people who were unemployed, a decrease of 15,200 over the year. The overall unemployment rate in Q4 2018 was 5.4%, 0.7% lower than the same quarter in 2017. Looking at this rate from a gender perspective, the female and the male unemployment rates were both 5.4%. Young women, aged 15-19 years, had the highest unemployment rate at 19.1% in Q4 2018, while men aged 65+ has the lowest rate at 1.3%.&nbsp;The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7%. On foot of this Labour Force Survey data the CSO revised the Monthly Unemployment Rates published for December 2018 and January 2019: the new rates are now 5.7% in comparison to 5.3%.</p><p>50,100 people were unemployed for more than a year. The long-term unemployment rate was 2.1%, down 0.4% on Q4 2017. Looking at long-term unemployment from an age perspective young people aged 15-24 account for 15.8%; people aged 25-44 account for 43.1%; while those aged 45years and over account for 41.1%. Men account for 61% of the long-term unemployed, and women account for 39%.</p><p>The country has been divided into eight regions: Border; West; Mid-West; South-East; South-West; Dublin; Mid-East; and Midland. Four regions had unemployment rates higher than the State’s rate of 5.4%: the West at 5.8%; the Mid-West at 5.6%; the South-East at 7.7%; and the Midlands at 6.6%. The State’s Participation Rate, which is arrived at by dividing the Labour Force by the total population aged 15+ years, stood at 62.2%. This rate was lower in the four regions with a higher unemployment rate. Two regions had a higher participation rate and they were the Mid-East at 64.1% and Dublin at 66%. These two regions also had lower unemployment rates: 4.9% and 5% respectively. Two regions had lower participation and unemployment rates: the Border region and the South-West. The participation rate in the Border region was 58.1% and their unemployment rate was 3.8%. The same figures for the South-West were 61.2% and 5.3%.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The Potential Additional Labour Force (PALF) stood at 108,300 people in Q4 2018, 3,000 fewer people than in Q4 2017. The CSO notes that PALF consists of two groups <em>‘persons seeking work but not immediately available’ </em>and <em>‘persons available for work but not seeking’</em>. This figure captures people who are unemployed but may have lost heart seeking work, people who may face logistical challenges, including childcare and transport, finding and maintaining paid employment.</p>Wed, 27 Feb 2019 10:06:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/27/labour-force-survey-q4-2018/January 2019 Unemployment Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/07/january-2019-unemployment-figures/
<p>On February 5<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Monthly Unemployment figures for January 2019. The monthly unemployment figures are based on the most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) and changes in the Live Register since the latest LFS was released. The most recent LFS covered Quarter 3, 2018 and was published on November 20<sup>th</sup>, 2018. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In January, 2019 127,300 people were unemployed, a decline of 13,400 on the same month in 2018. The overall Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) was 5.3%, down 0.7% on January 2018. Women account for 46.9% of those who are unemployed and men for 53.1%. In January 2019 the female and male unemployment rates were 5.4% and 5.2% respectively. A year ago the male rate was higher at 6.1%, while the female rate was 5.8%.&nbsp;</p><p>Looking at these figures from an age perspective there were 89,200 unemployed people aged between 25 and 74 years, and their MUR was 4.3%. A year ago these figures stood at 103,100 and 4.9% respectively, the month this MUR went under 5%. Men account for 52% of this age group and women 48%. The male MUR was 4.1%, down 0.9% on January 2018. The female MUR was 4.5%, down 0.3% over the year.</p><p>For the younger age group, people aged 15-24 years of age, there were 38,100 young people unemployed and their MUR was 12.4%. In January 2018, fewer young people were unemployed, 37,600, but their MUR was higher at 13.7%. Looking at the gender breakdown, 44.4% of this group were women, and there were 700 more young women unemployed than a year ago. The MUR for young women went down by 1.2% to 11.4%.&nbsp; Men accounted for 55.6% of this age group in January 2019, and over the year their Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) dropped 1.3% to 13.4%.</p>Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:26:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/07/january-2019-unemployment-figures/January 2019, Live Register Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/05/january-2019-live-register-figures/
<p><img src="/imglibrary/2019/02/15495530462455696_sm.jpg"></p><p>On February 7<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Live Register figures for January, 2019 and it stood at 199,627, a decline of 37,759 people on the same month last year. The seasonally adjusted register figure for January was 200,300. The last time the seasonally adjusted Live Register was at a similar level was April 2008, when it was 199,600, the last time this register was under 200,000.</p><p>39.6 % of the Register, or 79,010 people, have been on it for more than a year, 18,997 fewer people than in January, 2018. Young people, aged under 25 years account for 6.3% of those on the Register for more than a year. The age group with the highest percentage are those aged 45-54 years, at 21.3%. Looking at these figures from a gender perspective, women account for 40.7% and men 59.3%. Looking at the figures from a combination of age and gender, the largest group are men aged 35-44 years, at 13% of this part of the Register.</p><p>Of the people who have been on the Register for more than a year, 44,986 people have been on it for three years or more, which represents 56.9% of those on the Register for more than a year, and 22.5% of the whole Register. Looking at this figure from the perspective of age and gender, men aged 45-54 years are the largest group, accounting for 13.6% of this part of the Register.</p><p>According to the Annex Table there were 55,480 people participating on Activation Programmes in December 2018: 5,592 fewer participants then in the same month in 2017. There were 3,522 fewer participants on employment programmes, the biggest of these programmes is Community Employment and it had 21,424 participants. Participation on education and training programmes fell by 2,070 participants. Two programmes had more participants in December 2018 than in same month in 2017. They are Tús, a community based employment programme, with 6,511 participants (+102); and what is curiously still called FAS (Solas) Full Time Training for Unemployed People, with 6,046 participants (+51).</p><p>&nbsp;</p>Tue, 05 Feb 2019 11:54:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/02/05/january-2019-live-register-figures/December’s Live Register Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/01/11/decembers-live-register-figures/
<p>On January 10<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Live Register figures for December, 2018 and it stood at 199,669, a decline of 36,599 people on the same month last year. The seasonally adjusted register figure for December was 204,000. The last time the seasonally adjusted Live Register was at a similar level was May, 2008, when it was 204,900.</p><p>39.8% of the Register, or 79,542 people, have been on it for more than a year, 18,376 fewer people than in December 2017. Young people, aged under 25 years account for 6.3% of those on the Register for more than a year. The age group with the highest percentage are those aged 45-54 years, at 21.3%. Looking at these figures from a gender perspective, women account for 40.8% and men 59.2%. Looking at the figures from a combination of age and gender, the largest group are men aged 35-44 years, at 12.9% of this part of the Register.</p><p>Of the people who have been on the Register for more than a year, 45,649 people have been on it for three years or more, which represents 57.4% of those on the Register for more than a year, and 22.9% of the whole Register. Looking at this figure from the perspective of age and gender, men aged 45-54 years are the largest group, accounting for 13.7% of this part of the Register.</p><p>According to the Annex Table there were 56,012 people participating on Activation Programmes in November 2018: 5,541 fewer participants then in the same month in 2017. There were 3,533 fewer participants on employment programmes, the biggest of these programmes is Community Employment and it had 21,487 participants. Participation on education and training programmes fell by 2,008 participants. Two programmes had more participants in November 2018 than in same month in 2017. They are Tús, a community based employment programme, with 6,579 participants (+57); and what is curiously still called FAS (Solas) Full Time Training for Unemployed People, with 6,395 participants (+113).</p>Fri, 11 Jan 2019 11:19:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/01/11/decembers-live-register-figures/December 2018 Unemployment Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/01/08/december-2018-unemployment-figures/
<p>On January 8<sup>th</sup>, 2019 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Monthly Unemployment figures for December 2018. The monthly unemployment figures are based on the most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) and changes in the Live Register since the latest LFS was released. The most recent LFS covered Quarter 3, 2018 and was published on November 20<sup>th</sup>, 2018. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In December, 2018 127,100 people were unemployed, a decline of 20,000 on the same month in 2017. The overall Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) was 5.3%, down 0.9% on December 2017. Women account for 46.2% of those who are unemployed and men for 53.8%. In December 2018 the female and male unemployment rates were the same as the overall one: 5.3%. A year ago they were 5.8%; 6.5%; and 6.2% respectively.</p><p>Looking at these figures from an age perspective there were 89,700 unemployed people aged between 25 and 74 years, and their MUR was 4.3%. A year ago these figures stood at 110,400 and 5.3% respectively. The gender breakdown is similar to the national one: men account for 53% of this age group and women 47%. The male MUR was 4.2%, down 1.3% on December 2017. The female MUR was 4.4%, down 0.6% over the year.</p><p>For the younger age group, people aged 15-24 years of age, there were 37,300 young people unemployed and their MUR was 12.2%. In December 2017, fewer young people were unemployed, 36,700, but their MUR was higher at 13.3%. Looking at the gender breakdown, 44% of this group were women; there were 1,400 more young women unemployed than a year ago. The MUR for young women went down by 0.7% to 11.1%.&nbsp; Men accounted for 56% of this age group in December 2018, but a year ago accounted for 59%. Over the year the male Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) dropped 1.6% to 13.1%.</p>Tue, 08 Jan 2019 13:40:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2019/01/08/december-2018-unemployment-figures/Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2018http://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/18/educational-attainment-thematic-report-2018/
<p>On December 18<sup>th</sup>, 2018 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the <em>Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2018</em>. This report draws on data for Labour Force Survey Quarter 2, 2018, and highlights the strong link between educational attainment and employment status. For young people aged 18-24 years, their employment rate was 55%, their unemployment rate was 9%, and 36% of them were deemed inactive. But, for young people who have left school early, these figures are strikingly different: only 28% of them are employed; 18% are unemployed; and 54% are seen as inactive i.e. not in the labour force.</p><p>Looking at people aged 25-64 years, the unemployment rate for people with primary level education or lower was 14%, in comparison to an unemployment rate of 4% for people with third level education. The employment rates are also stark: 35% for people with primary or below vis-à-vis 85% for people with third level education.</p><p>In this age group people with a third level education account for 47% of the population, while people with primary or below represent 5%. The report notes the change over the past nine years. In Q2 2009 13% of this age group had primary level education or below; while in that quarter 37% of the population had third level education. &nbsp;</p><p>Breaking down these figures further by age, the age groups with a 50%+ third level education were people aged 25-34 years and 35-44 years.&nbsp; Looking at the age groups 20-24 years and 25-34 years from a gender perspective there is striking difference between female and male third level attainment. Young women aged 20-24 had a third level attainment rate of 32% in comparison to a male rate of 22%. While young men aged 35-44 years had a third level attainment rate of 52% in comparison to a female rate of 60%.</p><p>Looking at the participation rate for people aged 25-64 years, again there are striking differences across the education spectrum. The participation rate is the number of persons in the labour force expressed as a percentage of the total population. And in Q2 2018, people with third level education had a participation rate of 89%, in comparison to one of 41% for people with primary or below. This contrast was greater for women, as the participation rate for women with a third level qualification was 85%, in comparison to a participation of 29% for women with a primary education or below.</p><p>Click here to read the full report <a href="https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/eda/educationalattainmentthematicreport2018/">https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/eda/educationalattainmentthematicreport2018/</a></p>Tue, 18 Dec 2018 14:41:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/18/educational-attainment-thematic-report-2018/Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2017http://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/18/survey-on-income-and-living-conditions-2017/
<p>On December 17<sup>th</sup>, 2018 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Survey on Income and Living Conditions, SILC, for 2017. SILC is a household survey that captures information on a range of income and social transfers.</p><p>Amongst the data produced by SILC are key national poverty indicators including the at-risk-of- poverty rate; the deprivation rate; and the consistent poverty rate. The at-risk-of-poverty rate is defined as “<em>the share of persons with an equivalised income below a given percentage (usually 60%) of the national median income</em>”. The deprivation rate is defined as <em>“Households that are excluded and marginalised from consuming goods and services which are considered the norm for other people in society, due to an inability to afford them”</em>. And the consistent poverty rate captures people “<em>who are defined as being at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation (experiencing two or more types of deprivation)”.</em></p><p>At the national level at-risk-of- poverty rate declined from 16.2% in 2016 to 15.7% in 2017. The deprivation rate was 21% in 2016 and fell to 18.8% in 2017. The deprivation rate for people who are at-risk-of- poverty fell from 50.4% in 2016 to 42.8% in 2017. The consistent poverty rate was 8.2% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017.</p><p>Looking at these figures from the perspective of people who are unemployed at-risk-of- poverty rate increased from 39.2% in 2016 to 42% in 2017. The deprivation rate declined from 42.5% in 2016 to 41% in 2017. And the consistent poverty rate increased from 23.4% in 2016 and 24.1% in 2017.</p><p>As this figures illustrate, key poverty indicators are much higher for unemployed people than the national figures. This is also true for other groups of people. In 2017 the consistent poverty rate for people who are ‘not at work due to illness or disability’ was 24%; their deprivation rate was 45.9%; and their at-risk-of- poverty rate was 35.4%.</p><p>Looking at these figures from a household composition, three households had a consistent poverty rate in double digits: 1 adult aged &lt;65 at 20%; 1 adult with children aged under 18 at 20.7%; and other households with children aged under 18 at 11.3%.</p><p>Households who are no one at work had a consistent poverty rate of 21.3% in 2017; a deprivation rate of 34.2%; and an at-risk-of- poverty rate of 40.3%.</p><p><a href="https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-silc/surveyonincomeandlivingconditionssilc2017/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE to read the full survey</a></p>Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:15:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/18/survey-on-income-and-living-conditions-2017/November’s Live Register Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/06/novembers-live-register-figures/
<p>On December 6<sup>th</sup>, 2018 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Live Register figures for November, 2018 and it contained 196,261 people, 36,948 few people than in the same month last year. The seasonally adjusted register figure for November was 207,200: the first time this figure has been under 210,000 since May 2008, when it stood at 204,900 people.</p><p>41% of the Register, or 80,557 people, have been on it for more than a year, 17,908 fewer people than in November 2017. Young people, aged under 25 years account for 6.3% of those on the Register for more than a year. The age group with the highest percentage are those aged 45-54 years, at 21.2%. Looking at these figures from a gender perspective, women account for 40.9% and men 59.1%. Looking at the figures from a combination of age and gender, the largest group are men aged 35-44 years, at 12.8% of the Register.</p><p>Of the people who have been on the Register for more than a year, 46,396 people have been on it for three years or more, which represents 57.6% of those on the Register for more than a year, and 23.6% of the whole Register.</p><p>Looking at this figure from the perspective of age and gender, men aged 45-54 years are the largest group, accounting for 13.6%. Looking at it from a scheme perspective, Jobseekers Allowance applications account for 72%, and Other Registrants account for 28%. A striking feature of the ‘other registrants’ category is that 51% of this group are aged 60-64 years. &nbsp;</p><p>According to the Annex Table there were 55,335 people participating on Activation Programmes in October 2018: 5,641 fewer participants then in the same month in 2017. There were 3,452 fewer participants on employment programmes, the biggest of these programmes is Community Employment and it had 21,243 participants. Participation on education and training programmes fell by 2,189 participants. The only programme that recorded more participants in October 2018 was Tús, a community based employment programme, with 6,705 participants.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:35:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/06/novembers-live-register-figures/November Unemployment Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/05/november-unemployment-figures/
<p>Click the link below.</p><p><a href="https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/mue/monthlyunemploymentnovember2018/">https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/mue/monthlyunemploymentnovember2018/</a>&nbsp;</p>Wed, 05 Dec 2018 15:33:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/12/05/november-unemployment-figures/Labour Force Survey Q3 2018http://www.inou.ie/press/2018/11/21/labour-force-survey-q3-2018/
<p>On November 20<sup>th</sup> 2018 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Quarter 3, 2018. According to this survey there were 2,273,200 people employed, an increase of 66,700 on the same quarter in 2017. An additional 44,200 people were in full-time employment, and 22,500 people in part-time employment. Part-time employment accounts for 20% of people in employment. 111,500 people who are working part-time described themselves as underemployed i.e. they working less hours than they would like, and they represent 4.9% of those in employment.&nbsp;</p><p>There were 143,800 people who were unemployed, a decrease of 19,700 over the year. The overall unemployment rate in Q2 2018 was 6%, 0.9% lower than the same quarter in 2017. Looking at this rate from a gender perspective, the female unemployment rate was 6.1%, and the male rate was 5.9%, the first time the female rate was higher since Q3 2007. Young women, aged 15-19 years, had the highest unemployment rate at 25.9% in Q3 2018, while women aged 65+ has the lowest rate at 0.5%.&nbsp;</p><p>50,200 people were unemployed for more than a year. The long-term unemployment rate was 2.1%, down 0.7% on Q3 2017. Looking at long-term unemployment from an age perspective young people aged 15-24 account for 18.7%; people aged 25-44 account for 43.2%; while those aged 45years and over account for 38%. Men account for 58% of the long-term unemployed, and women account for 42%.</p><p>The country has been divided into eight regions: Border; West; Mid-West; South-East; South-West; Dublin; Mid-East; and Midland. Four regions had unemployment rates higher than the State’s rate of 6%: the West at 6.6%; the Mid-West at 7.2%; the South-East at 8.6%; and the Midlands at 7.1%.</p><p>The State’s Participation Rate, which is arrived at by dividing the Labour Force by the total population aged 15+ years, stood at 62.6%. This rate was lower in the four regions with a higher unemployment rate. Three regions had a higher participation rate and they were the South-West at 62.9%; the Mid-East at 63%; and Dublin at 66.1%. These three regions also had lower unemployment rates: 4.9%; 5.8% and 5.3% respectively. The Border region was the only one with both lower participation and unemployment rates: 59.3% and 5.1% respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>As part of the Labour Force Survey the CSO also publishes the Indicators of Potential Labour Supply, which present a fuller picture of the employment issues facing Ireland. PLS3, which captures <em>“unemployed persons plus Potential Additional Labour Force plus others who want a job, who are not available and not seeking for reasons other than being in education or training as a percentage of the Labour Force plus Potential Additional Labour Force plus others who want a job, who are not available and not seeking for reasons other than being in education or training”</em>. In Q3 2018 PLS3 stood at 14.6%, while in Q3 2007 it was 7.4%.</p><p>The Potential Additional Labour Force (PALF) stood at 118,600 people in Q3 2018. The CSO notes that PALF consists of two groups <em>‘persons seeking work but not immediately available’ </em>and <em>‘persons available for work but not seeking’</em>. This figure is seen as supplementing the unemployment rate and captures people who are unemployed but may have lost heart seeking work, and people who may face logistical challenges, including childcare and transport, finding and maintaining paid employment.&nbsp;</p>Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:34:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/11/21/labour-force-survey-q3-2018/October 2018, Live Register Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/11/05/october-2018-live-register-figures/
<p>On November 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2018 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published the Live Register figures for October, 2018 and it contained 199,247 people. The last time the register was below 200,000 was April 2008, when it stood at 195,598 people.</p><p>41.7% of the Register, or 82,998 people, have been on it for more than a year, 18,592 fewer people than in October 2017. Young people, aged under 25 years account for 6.6% of those on the Register for more than a year. The age group with the highest percentage are those aged 45-54 years, at 21.1%. Looking at these figures from a gender perspective, women account for 40.8% and men 59.2%. Looking at the figures from a combination of age and gender, the largest group are men aged 35-44 years, at 12.8% of the Register.</p><p>Of the people who have been on the Register for more than a year, 47,772 people have been on it for three years or more, which represents 57.6% of those on the Register for more than a year, and 24% of the whole Register.</p><p>Looking at this figure from the perspective of age and gender, men aged 45-54 years are the largest group, accounting for 13.4%. Looking at it from a scheme perspective, Jobseekers Allowance applications account for 73%, and Other Registrants account for 27%.&nbsp;</p><p>According to the Annex Table there were 53,308 people participating on Activation Programmes in September 2018. In September 2017 there were 4,325 more participants. The programmes that recorded fewer participants in 2018 were the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; DSP Part-time Job Incentive Scheme; JobBridge; Gateway; Community Employment: and the Back to Education Allowance.</p><p>The two programmes that recorded some increase over the year were: TUS, the Community Work Placement Initiative (133), which is rolled out under the auspices of the Local Development companies; and FAS (Solas) Full-time Training for Unemployed People (71), which is rolled-out through the Education and Training Boards.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>Mon, 05 Nov 2018 10:02:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/11/05/october-2018-live-register-figures/October Unemployment Figureshttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/10/31/october-unemployment-figures/
<p>On October 31<sup>st</sup>, 2018 the Central Statistics Office published the Monthly Unemployment figures for October 2018. 126,400 people were unemployed, a decline of 29,400 on the same month in 2017. The overall Monthly Unemployment Rate (MUR) was 5.3%, down 1.3% on October 2017.&nbsp; The previous time the MUR was 5.3% was between the months of December 2007 and February 2008. At that stage between 124,400 and 124,900 people were unemployed.</p><p>Looking at these figures from an age perspective there were 93,600 unemployed people aged between 25 and 74 years, and their MUR was 4.4%. A year ago these figures stood at 118,000 and 5.6% respectively. The previous time this age groups MUR stood at 4.4% was in April 2008, and at that stage there were 83,600 people unemployed.&nbsp;</p><p>For the younger age group, people aged 15-24 years of age, their MUR was 12%, which brings the rate back to late spring / early summer of 2008. At that stage there were between 50,600 and 54,800 young people unemployed. In October, 2018 there were 32,800 young people unemployed, a figure last seen in mid-2002, at that stage young people’s unemployment rate stood at 7.9%. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:22:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/10/31/october-unemployment-figures/What did Budget 2019 deliver?http://www.inou.ie/press/2018/10/10/what-did-budget-2019-deliver/
<p class="text-center"><strong><img src="/imglibrary/2018/09/15371762145303054_sm.png"></strong></p><p class="text-center">&nbsp;</p><p>Budget 2019 was announced by the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. on October 9<sup>th</sup>, 2018. A key ask for the INOU was that the Government started to benchmark all social welfare rates at a level that is sufficient to lift people above the poverty line and provide them with a Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL).</p><p>The General Branch, the mechanism through which unemployed people participate in the running of the INOU, had called <em>“on the Government to increase the Christmas Bonus to 100% of normal weekly payments for customers.”&nbsp;</em></p><p>The INOU raised concerns that Brexit and changing nature of work, in particular digitalisation, could have a detrimental effect on people more distant from the labour market, and reduce their capacity to secure and maintain economic independence.</p><p>To that end the INOU called on the Government to resource the provision of good career and employment guidance to support unemployed people to make informed choices. In particular to ensure that individuals and communities most disadvantaged in the labour market are pro-actively provided with tailor made supports that will address their marginalisation.</p><p>Given the wide range of learning needs evident amongst the unemployed it is important that the correct supports are in place and people are supported to make the most appropriate choice for themselves, including locally based adult and community based education courses.</p><p>Of particular concern to the INOU is the inadequacy of supports to assist unemployed people to participate in education and training, some supports were cut during the crisis and others have remained unchanged for years, and this issue must be addressed.</p><p><strong>So how does Budget 2019 compare to the INOU calls for action on the Government to:</strong></p><ol><li>Benchmark all Social Welfare rates at a level which is sufficient to both lift people above the poverty line and provide them with a Minimum Essential Standard of Living.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>To make progress on this issue, increase Social Welfare rates by €6.<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li>The main Social Welfare rates will be increased by €5 in March 2019, almost bringing Jobseekers payments back to 2009 levels, which is most welcome.</li><li>However, this is the year when age segregation was introduced in the means tested payment Jobseeker’s Allowance, and this inequality remains.</li><li>During the crisis the duration a recipient could be on the social insurance payment, Jobseeker’s Benefit was reduced from 15 months to 9, if the person had more than 5 years PRSI contribution; and from 12 months to 6 if they had less than 5 years PRSI contributions. These cuts in duration remain.</li></ol></li><li>Increase the Christmas Bonus to 100% of normal weekly payments for Social Welfare recipients.<ul><li>Done and most welcome for the people who will receive it, but it should be noted that an unemployed person must be on a Jobseeker’s payment for at least 15 months to be eligible to receive it.</li></ul></li><li>Introduce an hours-based Social Welfare system and re-design the earnings disregard accordingly.<ul><li>There was nothing new on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Increase the top-up payment on employment programmes by €7.50 to better support participants costs of engagement.<ul><li>Participants on employment programmes will receive the €5 increase to social welfare payments, but the top-up remains at €22.50.</li></ul></li><li>Increase the Income disregard for Jobseekers Allowance (JA) to €25 per day.<ul><li>There was nothing new on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Increase the Capital disregard for JA from €20,000 to €30,000 and the next €10,000 to €15,000 for the two subsequent assessments.<ul><li>There was nothing new on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Bring the capital disregard for Supplementary Welfare Allowance into line with other working age payments.<ul><li>There was nothing new on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Resource the provision of good career and employment guidance to support unemployed people to make informed choices.<ul><li>There was nothing new on this issue, and it will be important that if Ireland’s employment / unemployment figures continue to improve that people who become and remain unemployed are given the appropriate supports to secure a decent job.</li></ul></li><li>Ensure that individuals and communities most disadvantaged in the labour market are pro-actively provided with tailor made supports that will address their marginalisation.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue, though the additional funding under the PEACE Programme 2014-2020 is a welcome development.</li></ul></li><li>Run an information campaign on the full range of Back to Work supports e.g. the Part-time Job Incentive Scheme; SWA Payment Pending Wages; Enterprise and Education Allowances; Family Dividend.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue, but the INOU will be pursuing this issue through our work with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.</li></ul></li><li>Support people to address the initial costs of taking up employment.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Support people to manage the impact of unemployment on their health and well-being.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Support frontline staff to deliver a person-centred service with good guidance and information on the best options.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Incorporate a strong equality and social inclusion focus, especially for older unemployed people.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Plan for the employment impacts of Brexit: the job losses and gains and ensure the people affected gain access to decent employment.<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li>Under the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation there will be additional funding for the Department, its Enterprise Agencies, and regulatory bodies, to assist enterprises to diversify in global markets and in meeting the challenge of Brexit.</li><li>Under the Department of Education and Skills, and as part of the Government’s strategic response to Brexit and other challenges facing the economy, a new ring-fenced funding line, the Human Capital Initiative will be established.</li><li>It will be important to ensure that unemployed people and others more distant from the labour market benefit from these developments.</li></ol></li><li>Similarly plan for the increased digitalisation of work.<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li>Under the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment there is €87m to support the National Broadband Plan and promoting digital adoption among small businesses and citizens.</li><li>Under the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection there will be technological innovations to enable the digital provision of services and information.</li><li>It will be important to ensure that unemployed people and others more distant from the labour market benefit from these developments.</li></ol></li><li>Run an information campaign on the Working Family Payment (WFP), formerly known as the Family Income Supplement (FIS).<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue, but the INOU will be pursuing this issue through our work with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.</li></ul></li><li>Change the criteria on WFP from 19 hours a week or 38 hours a fortnight to 15 hours a week or 60 hours a month to support people in precarious employment.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Automate access to WFP and streamline this access to minimise the time gap between the individual taking up employment and gaining access to this support.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Actively support the roll-out of the Living Wage.<ul><li>There was nothing per se on this issue, but the Minister announced that the National Minimum Wage will increase to €9.80; the ceiling of the second USC rate band will be increased from €19,372 to €19,874 in order to ensure that the salary of a full-time worker on the minimum wage will remain outside the top rates of USC; and the weekly threshold for the higher rate of employer’s PRSI will be increased from €376 to €386 to ensure that there is no incentive to reduce working hours for a full-time minimum wage worker.</li></ul></li><li>Resource the provision of good advice and guidance to support unemployed people to access appropriate education and training.<ul><li>There was nothing per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>In particular the learning needs of unemployed people whose skills levels are below QQI Level 4.<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li><li>Under the Department of Education and Skills through a reformed National Training Fund there will be additional 1,200 craft and earn as you learn places; 1,100 Traineeships; 7,400 Skillnet Ireland places; 1,000 Springboard places.</li><li>It will be important to ensure that unemployed people and others more distant from the labour market benefit from these developments.</li></ol></li><li>Support unemployed people to address the costs of participating in education and training.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Acknowledge and support the role of alternative and community based education in meeting the needs of unemployed people.<ul><li>There was nothing new per se on this issue.</li></ul></li><li>Resource the development and maintenance of independent community based organisations and their work with people experiencing social and economic exclusion.<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"><li>Under the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection there will be a €2 million increase for materials funding for Community Employment Scheme.</li><li>Under the work programme of the Department of Rural and Community Development they note they will provide labour market training and supports through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme; provide support for a range of initiatives in the community and voluntary sector; consolidate RAPID and Community Facilities Scheme into the Community Enhancement Programme; and continue to support Social Enterprise under the Community Services Programme.</li></ol></li></ol>Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:39:00 GMThttp://www.inou.ie/press/2018/10/10/what-did-budget-2019-deliver/